Best dressed: Winners of the Halloween Pet Costume Contest

Plenty of people dress up their animals for Halloween: A survey from the National Retail Federation estimated American consumers would spend $370 million on pet costumes in 2012.

But Ashley Setters took it one step further this year. Setters, 26, of Dover, chose a "Where's Waldo?" costume for her dog, Chaps. Then, she staged a scene around him.

"Basically we bought the Waldo costume, and then put him in with the different characters to 'hide' him," Setters said. "We tried to make it look like the actual 'Where's Waldo?' scenes where you can find him."

Setters was rewarded for her efforts: Chaps took first place in the York Daily Record/Sunday News' Halloween Pet Costume Contest.

But it's not the first year Setters has included Chaps in the holiday spirit. The 9-year-old Jack Russell terrier and Lhasa Apso mix has been Shrek, Robin Hood, a prisoner and a Star Wars character in past years.

"We just do it for the picture and (then) put it on a card to send to the family, like a Happy Halloween card," Setters said.

And through it all, Chaps was a pretty good sport.

"We make sure he gets a treat when he's done, so he poses pretty well."

Strutting his stuff

Kristin Burkins of North Codorus Township has also been celebrating Halloween with her dog for a few years.

"I've always dressed him up, every year now," said Burkins, 30. "He was a turtle last year."

This year, her 2½-year-old puggle - a cross of a beagle and a pug - went trick-or-treating as Rondo the

Aviator.

Her photo won second place.

"I just thought it was cute," Burkins said.

Rondo joined Burkins' two kids as they trick-or-treated through a Spring Grove neighborhood.

"He's pretty good," Burkins said. "He doesn't like to wear the hat, but other than that, he did pretty good."

Out of the ordinary

Of course, Halloween's not just for man's best friend. Third-place honors go to Erin O'Neill of Springettsbury Township for her photo of "superhorse" Murphy.

O'Neill leases the 15-year-old Australian thoroughbred through Woodberry Farm in West Manchester Township. Her superhorse idea came from Internet research and her intention to create a costume from things she had at home.

The blue covering on his neck and face is a hood used during shows "to keep the horses from rubbing the braids out," O'Neill said.

A red blanket became his cape once O'Neill added a Superman symbol made from paper. The red and blue cloth on his legs - the finishing touch - are polo wraps using when riding.